WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the latest chapter of the automaker's recall-related challenges, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating how Toyota handled a steering relay rod recall back in the mid-2000s. Basically, NHTSA is seeking to find out if Toyota Motor Corp. brought the matter to the attention of proper authorities within the mandatory […] [Read More]

DAYTON, Ohio — Reynolds and Reynolds announced another "competitive advantage" Tuesday for dealer customers who use the Reynolds ERA dealership management system and Web sites from Reynolds Web Solutions. These dealers can now enjoy real-time inventory updates, which can help them build consumers' confidence in what they have to offer. Basically, if a dealer uploads a vehicle […] [Read More]

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Automakers have rolled out unprecedented incentives and rebates this month, according to NADAguides.com, which recently released what it considers to be the top deals for May. The site said the "standouts" for the month are Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Toyota. Chevrolet, for example, is providing customers with $6,500 cash back when they […] [Read More]

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Dealer.com recently struck an exclusive partnership with DriverSide to provide vehicle service and retention tools for dealerships' Web sites. The companies are teaming up to roll out a series of products for dealers. The first is designed to augment Dealer.com's platform with fixed operations content. Additional fixed-ops and service marketing products will be added […] [Read More]

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — GE Capital Fleet Services recently broke down how it identified $65 million in cost savings for its fleet operations customers during the first quarter of this year. Four factors that reduced costs and streamlined processes came together to create the total, including: —Total-cost-of-ownership analysis ($18 million): Using cost analysis to evaluate and […] [Read More]

TORRANCE, Calif. — The certified pre-owned segment showed year-over-year gains for the second straight month in April after 13 consecutive months of declining sales, and one automaker, in particular, seems to be moving out of doldrums after some especially challenging issues earlier in 2010. Overall, there were 144,117 certified pre-owned units sold throughout the industry, according […] [Read More]

IRVINE, Calif. — Analysts from Kelley Blue Book believe the effects from generous incentives handed out by several automakers in recent weeks are spilling into the used-vehicle market. An example from the May edition of the Blue Market Report showed how shoppers enticed by new-vehicles incentives are mulling another option. More buyers are considering that for the […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — Manheim and Avis Budget Group recently collaborated for a program intended to increase the speed and efficiency of rental-vehicle remarketing at select Avis airport locations. The pilot stage of Avis Early Access is now being conducted at airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Fla., and Pittsburgh. Officials mentioned that additional locations […] [Read More]

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — In Black Book's weekly observations of current trends in the auction market, editors noticed that wholesale prices and demand for one segment, in particular, were surprisingly healthy. With gas prices not too far from $3 per gallon, Black Book managing editor Ricky Beggs found it a bit unusual that full-size SUVs "were in […] [Read More]

ATLANTA — Global private equity firm Providence Equity Partners is obtaining a 25-percent share in Cox Enterprise's AutoTrader.com, a move Cox officials said will provide the company more investment capital and expertise to help the site grow further. Executives emphasized that Cox will have majority ownership of AutoTrader.com as well as control over operations. The move […] [Read More]